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R.S. Regular user CT one day I'll have 184 Posts |
Anybody familiar with "Alberti's Game" from Karl Fulves Self-Working Number Magic? It's presented as a feat of mathematical prowess, but it certainly has the potential to be a very good prediction type effect. As presented in the book, you have a spectator write down any 3-digit number (twice), then they write another 3-digit number below the first 3-digit number, and finally, the performer writes another 3-digit number beneath the second original 3-digit number. Both sets of numbers can now be instantaneously multiplied and their results added together faster than can be done on a calculator! (it also works with 4-digit numbers, 5- digit numbers, etc.)
I've always liked this effect, and as impressive as it is as a demonstration of mathematical ability, I believe it can work even better as a prediction effect. Moreover, presenting it as a prediction effect should certainly be more appealing to the lay public than presenting it as an exercise in arithmetic computation. So I've been toying with some ideas, and in fact, have gotten good reactions using this as a mentalism effect. Anybody else explore this principle? Anybody try it as a prediction effect? Care to share ideas? Ron
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine
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Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts |
Alberti's Game is true mathematical classic. Docc Hilford, in his "Books of Numbers" has a great prediction presentation for just this routine.
Part of the challenge is that you're supplying some of the numbers, and you're the one making the prediction. You somehow have to lead the audience away from the fact that you're trying to control the outcome with your choice of numbers (secret assistant in the audience, possibly?). |
R.S. Regular user CT one day I'll have 184 Posts |
Thanks Scott. I was not aware that this was in print anywhere but the Fulves book. I'll have to check out the Hilford method.
The great advantage to this principle is that as soon as the spec writes that very first random number, you immediately know the final outcome! That's too powerful not to exploit as a prediction effect. However, I really try to avoid the use of "secret assistants", and in fact, I don't believe it's totally necessary here. Also, I use 2-digit numbers instead of 3-digit numbers as it's less math intensive and in most cases the spec can work out 2-dgit multiplications fairly quickly by hand, and the outcome is no less impressive than if you started with 3-digit numbers. Anybody else perform this? Ron
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine
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Nir Dahan Inner circle Munich, Germany 1390 Posts |
Scott,
what is the name of the routine in Docc's booklet? |
Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts |
The routine is called N3WM3RO, from Mestha (book 1). If you have access to the original Jinx magazines, you would do well to look up Numero, the routine that inspired it, as well.
I also believe that Barrie Richarson's "Human Equation" in Theater of the Mind uses this same approach. |
R.S. Regular user CT one day I'll have 184 Posts |
Scott,
You are a fountain of mathematical magic knowledge. Thanks! Ron :)
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine
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